The relationship between Penfolds and the cool climate, higher altitudes of the Adelaide Hills goes back to the company's origins. Dr Penfold established his winemaking venture at Mackgill in 1844 to make Grenache wines which he would prescribe to patients. Exclusively hand picked grapes, with the inclusion of some whole bunches for complexity, are cold soaked and crushed before the free run juices, to the exception of any pressings, are naturally fermented followed by a single racking off gross lees. The finished wine is matured eight months in a combination of new and seasoned French oak barriques, before bottling, filtered but unfined.